Charles Pinckney
National Historic Site

VISITATION:

Highest in summer; lowest in December and January. In 1998--42,000 visitors.

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LOCATION:

The park is located at 1254 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

ADDRESS:

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
1214 Middle Street
Sullivan's Island, SC 29462-9748

TELEPHONE:

(843) 881-5516
(843) 881-7070 (FAX)

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed December 25.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Summers are generally hot and humid. Brief showers and thunderstorms are normal, especially in the afternoon. Spring and fall are temperate. Winters may be cool and damp with occasional periods below freezing; snow is unlikely.

DIRECTIONS:

The site is six miles north of Charleston on US Highway 17. Turn left on Long Point Road and travel one-half mile. The entrance is on the left. If traveling on I-526, exit at Long Point Road, turn left at the light and travel three miles. The entrance is on the right. Either way, the route is well marked.

TRANSPORTATION:

Charleston, South Carolina is a major destination city. It is served by several airlines, Amtrak and inter-city busses. Charleston public transportation does not provide access to the park, however, taxis are readily available.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:

No entrance fee is charged.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:

The visitor center is located in a house built circa 1828, after the Pinckney era. This well-preserved structure is a rare example of a once-common low country cottage. Exhibits interpret Charles Pinckney, a "Founding Father" who shaped the United States Constitution, his family, his political offices, his impact on the Constitution, the impact and influence of slavery in the low-country and some of the archeological discoveries made on-site. Two videos, each under 20 minutes, are available. One focuses on Charles Pinckney and Snee Farm. The other relates how the Constitution was written in 1787 and how it applies to our lives today. It features scenes from National Park sites associated with Constitutional history.

Trails, Roads:

Twenty-eight acres of a once-proud 715 acre plantation called Snee Farm are preserved in the park. In its open spaces are exhibits describing the existing house, archeological excavations, agricultural history and how neighboring water and wetlands contributed to the plantation.

Programs/Activities:

The visitor center is self guiding with park staff available for interpretive services. The video is shown on request. Educational programs tailored for students and adults are offered throughout the year. Advance reservations are required.

Lodging and camping facilities:

None in the park. However, Mount Pleasant and Charleston offer hotels and motels, bed and breakfasts and inns. Prices vary with level of accommodation and with seasons. Several campgrounds are nearby. Camping is also available in the Francis Marion National Forest - contact the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for details.

Food/supplies:

Numerous restaurants in Mount Pleasant and Charleston cater to most appetites and vary in price range. Supermarkets and convenience stores are nearby. Charleston is a major city with a variety of services are available. The city offers several hospitals.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

The park bookstore is operated by Eastern National, and is located in the visitor center. It offers a wide selection of books about the period and themes of the park. Also available are other historically accurate items relating to the park's history. Items for sale are also available by mail. Call (843) 883-9783 for further information.

Accessibility:

The visitor center and comfort station are handicapped accessible. The grounds and other exhibits on-site are also accessible.

Special Needs:

Parking is available for cars, busses and campers including those designed for handicapped persons.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

This site allows the visitor to enjoy the grounds, and by imagination, see a slice of the rural, agricultural south, from the Revolutionary Era up to modern times. Inside the visitor center, learn about Charles Pinckney, the plantation, slave influence on southern life and the importance of archeology.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Reservations for individuals and small groups are not required. Because the site is small and facilities are limited, school groups and other groups should make reservations as early as possible. Special use permits are required for all other purposes.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Plan about an hour for your visit to the site.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:

Archeology Month - September. Special emphasis on the archeological exhibits.

Constitution Week - September 13 to 19. Activities focus on Pinckney's contributions to the U. S. Constitution. Scrolls will be available for visitors to add their signatures as Constitutional signers. The national goal is a million signatures. The scrolls will be preserved for posterity in Philadelphia.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Information on park closings due to weather or other emergencies will be posted at the park entrance, and is also available by calling the park or (843) 883-3123.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Fort Sumter National Monument - a moving memorial at the site of the first shots of the Civil War. This fort, in the middle of Charleston Harbor, is accessible only by boat. Private boaters are welcome when the fort is open and a National Park Service concessioner operates tour boats to the monument. Admission is free, but there is a fee for the tour boat.

Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island, about fifteen minutes from Charles Pinckney NHS or Charleston offers visitors an overview of American coastal defense from the Revolutionary War through World War II. This was the site of the first decisive American victory during the Revolutionary War, and one of the forts which fired on Fort Sumter when the Civil War began in 1861. A User Fee is charged and parking is available.

Charleston and surrounding area offers theaters, museums, historic houses, plantations and much more. The downtown area and neighboring residential area retain the flavor of the early south. The nearby barrier islands offer many vacation opportunities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482, call (843) 881-5516, or send email.

ADDITIONAL LINKS: